The Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins in mid-February this year, is traditionally a time of celebration for Minnesota’s Muslim communities. Prayer halls are packed, and long tables are set for iftar, the evening meal that breaks the daily fast. Families and friends visit each other. Mosques hold extra night prayers. Businesses sell dates, rice, spices, new clothes and gifts for Eid.
But this year, many people are planning for Ramadan with a knot in their stomach.
Across the Twin Cities and in cities like St. Cloud and Willmar, immigrant Muslims say they’re feeling pressure from two directions.
Immigration enforcement, including a crackdown in St. Cloud, along with the rising cost of food, have affected his customers, said Noor Yussuf, owner of Midnimo Halal Grocery in St. Cloud.
Economic pressures are not entirely new, but the recent surge in harsh federal immigration enforcement measures has led to a Minnesota winter like no other, making many people fearful to socialize, shop and move about.
“Fear now shapes everyday decisions,” said Imam Aden Hassan of the Islamic Society of Willmar. “Some people avoid large gatherings, while others stop attending mosque programs they once treated as routine. Talks about safety precede any decisions related to Ramadan and Eid gatherings.”
Sheikh Abdirahman Bashir, imam at Dar al-Farooq Center in Bloomington, said the unprecedented situation could have lasting effects on Muslim communities. “This will extend far beyond the immediate term,” he told Sahan Journal.
Ramadan centers on community, he said. People break their fast together after sunset. They pray side by side. They give to charity. They check on elders. They share food with neighbors. When fear enters that system, everything feels different.
“Food brings people together, but the fear of deportation and detention is keeping many from gathering,” said Imam Mohamed Shuayb of the Bayan Research Center in St. Anthony.
Traditionally, mosques host large iftars that welcome anyone who walks in. Friends are reunited after months apart. Teenagers volunteer in kitchens, carrying trays and trading jokes. Parents talk through work problems, family news and school issues.
Now, Aden said some people will eat at home and come to mosques only for prayer. Others will avoid mosques altogether because of concerns about what could happen on the way there.
That fear has also affected daily work schedules. Many immigrants in Minnesota make their living by driving people, delivering goods or working service jobs that require constant interaction with strangers. Now such contact feels risky.
Some ride-share drivers have already scaled back work ahead of Ramadan. Faysal Hassan, an Uber driver, said he and many of his fellow rideshare drivers feel watched and uncertain about who they can safely pick up, especially late at night. “These days, some customers ask me where I am from,” he said. “I feel fearful and carefully consider the rides I accept.”
And that is affecting Ramadan, he added. “Fewer shifts mean less income before and during a month that already reshapes sleep, meals and routines,” he said.
Money worries sit close to the surface. Charitable giving usually increases during Ramadan. Now mosques, which rely on donations to support religious programs, youth activities and emergency aid, expect donations to drop.
“Many of our supporters are struggling,” said Aden. “Drivers and service providers are losing clients, and some have had to close their doors altogether.”
Muslim business owners describe a similar strain. Operating costs have climbed. Billing rules in some service industries remain unclear. At the same time, customers are spending less as the cost of rent and groceries rises.
Nur Hadi Ahmed, the owner of DurDur Bakery and Grocery in Minneapolis, said Muslim-owned businesses had already entered the new year in a weakened position. Last year, the first in President Donald Trump’s second administration, businesses that once supported mosques and community programs faced disruptions tied to immigration policy shifts, trade tariffs and staffing instability.
Nur Hadi says tighter visa rules reduced the labor pool, while import taxes raised the cost of goods sold during Ramadan and Eid. Some businesses never recovered the revenue they once used to sponsor mosque events or donate food.
Trade policy continues to add pressure. Many Minnesota retailers who sell clothing, prayer garments and Eid attire rely on imported goods. Tariff-related price swings have pushed up costs, especially for businesses sourcing products from China. Owners say they have had to either raise prices or limit inventory, both of which cut into sales during a critical season.
Truck drivers face related challenges. Drivers who move goods across regional routes report lower freight demand as trade slows and expenses rise. “When loads disappear, household income drops,” said Khadar Mohamed, the owner of Kom Trucking, which is based in St. Cloud. “That loss lands hard during Ramadan.”
Small businesses face new pressures
Financial pressure has also grown among service providers tied to Minnesota’s human services system. In recent years, state authorities expanded fraud investigations across several publicly funded programs. While state officials say the effort protects public funds, many providers report fear and uncertainty.
“Some reduced services or left the field, worried that small billing mistakes could trigger severe penalties,” said Abdirahman Abdi, one service provider. “For immigrant-run operations with narrow margins, the climate feels unforgiving.”
New payment review practices have deepened the strain. Providers now wait longer for reimbursement. Small businesses that depend on steady cash flow struggle to cover rent, wages and supplies during those delays. Some say the shift forced layoffs or closures.
“Rising prices are most evident in the kitchen,” said Amina Deble, owner of Oasis Mediterranean Grill in Minneapolis. “After a long fast, families want meals that feel familiar. Many dishes require time, ingredients and shared effort. Higher food costs push families to simplify their meals.”
Some households plan lighter meals this year. Saciido Shaie, a Circle Pines mother of three, said everything has become more expensive. As a result, soup, bread, dates and tea will appear more often on the dinner table. “Meat will stay on the menu less frequently,” she said. “Families will share food with fewer people, even when they wish they could do more.”
Restaurants have long shaped life during Ramadan in Minnesota. After sunset, families often gather at South Asian restaurants for quick meals before prayers. Several popular Indian restaurants have closed, with staffing issues tied to visa problems contributing to some closures. Fewer restaurants mean fewer affordable options outside the home.
Mohamed Hussein, a Bangladeshi chef and owner of India Kutir restaurant on Lake Street in Minneapolis, has been serving halal food for three years. He noted that business has been slow since federal immigration enforcement intensified, leading to occasional closures. “My Latino employees, who I trained well, left the job,” he said. “We are not expecting enough customers this Ramadan.”
Mosques feel the impact directly. Restaurants often donate food for fundraisers or sponsor community events. “When restaurants close or cut staff, mosques lose key partners,” he said. “Volunteers step in, even as they manage their own concerns about safety and finances.”
Activities that once felt restorative are also affected. Community walking groups, which many Muslims join during Ramadan for fitness and reflection, will be slowed or paused due to worries that visible groups in public spaces could draw unwanted attention.
Fear has also grown after three shootings, two of them fatal, by federal immigration officers in January. The incidents occurred weeks before Ramadan planning began, heightening anxiety across immigrant neighborhoods and shaping how families weigh safety against participation in communal life.
Still, many Muslims refuse to withdraw completely. Imam Abdirahman Bashir urged unity during this period of strain. “We need to come together now more than ever,” he said.
That means helping others too. “Families need help covering rent. Small businesses need customers. Mosques need volunteers. Parents need reassurance that their children can worship safely,” he said.
Despite the pressures, said Abdirahman, “We will pray, we will look for small ways to care for one another. In a season shaped by restraint, those quiet acts still matter.”
